Keeping an Eye On Things

Most early explorers and settlers tended to find themselves alone in a largely lawless land. Drunkenness, gambling, claim-jumping, and boundary disputes were common. As a result, a town sheriff or a town marshal was one of the first public officials appointed when towns were established. Through necessity, these men were generally the toughest available, which meant that more than a few came with considerable experience on both sides of the law.
"The Trail would be rough,And it wasn't enough,To cry 'foul' as men commonly would,So protection was found,From the most able around,Although the bad was sometimes mixed with the good."